HomeMy WebLinkAboutCRA-R-09-0007 BackupT FI Li W 6 M L L 1 ANC
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October 18, 2008
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Commissioner Michelle Spence Jones
Commissioner Marc Sarnoff
C/O City of Miami Community Redevelopment Agency
49 NW 5Th Street
Miami, FL 33136
Dear Commissioners:
Again, thank you for your supportive role in ensuring the success of our exciting social
enterprise model, Chapter 2 that is leading retail revitalization efforts on historic 9k"
Street in Overtown.
As you are aware, The Women's Alliance (www.thewomensalliance.org) is a Miami/Overtown based
not -for -profit membership alliance comprised of independent, community -based organizations
across the United States that assist women and families in transition to break free from the cycle of
poverty and homelessness to create a better life for themselves and their families.
Each year, the services provided by The Women's Alliance help more than 50,000 women and
families to overcome employment barriers and the "cost of making a good appearance" by ensuring
that they have the professional attire they need to make the right impression in job interviews and
to succeed in the workplace.
In late 2005, The Women's Alliance received a three-year grant from the John S. and James L.
Knight Foundation to launch Chapter 2. Located at Dorsey House in Overtown, Miami, Chapter 2 is
a unique, upscale resale store featuring men's and women's clothing that serves the community,
helps improve quality of life, and is dedicated to providing professional attire and career skills
training for low-income women seeking employment.
Chapter 2 officially opened February 3, 2006 and we very pleased with the positive community
response to our project, including Chapter 2's most recent recognition as the Greater Miami of
Commerce's 2008 NOVO Award Winner for Nonprofit Excellence and Miami New Time's
2008 Best Charity to Donate Clothes.
As we move to complete our third year of operations, Chapter 2 is 90% on target to break even
from program activities this year. With additional community support and a creative marketing
strategy, we will be able to implement revenue generation strategies and innovative programs that
will ensure that we meet our 2008/09 sales and community support goals.
The current collapsing economic environment has led to increasing requests to provide wardrobe
support for homeless and very low-income Overtown residents in transition. In addition, with
support from the City of Miami Community Redevelopment Agency, Chapter 2 partnered with the
Hospitality Institute during 2008 to provide $100 wardrobe gift certificates for graduates to
supplement their wardrobes in readiness for upcoming interviews at the program's job fair (and
beyond).
Due to the increasingly significant number of men served by the Hospitality Institute program, and
with excellent leadership and encouragement from James Villacorta it was identified that a
substantive wardrobe program for homeless men was needed to keep up with the demand for
support and ensure the most high quality service for homeless and displaced residents that truly
engages and helps homeless men on their path to self-sufficiency.
Camillus House stepped forward and joined forces as a member of The Women's Alliance to launch
Camillus Closet to help provide wardrobe and job readiness services for their homeless clientele
in addition to male Hospitality Institute graduates. Led by Dr. Ahr, Camilus House has been a
great supporter of Chapter 2 by donating warehouse space needed to control clothing inventory
and recommending us for women's clothing donations. Plans are underway for Camillus Closet to
launch wardrobe services at their temporary facility this November.
Both Chapter 2 and Camillus Closet request assistance from the Community
Redevelopment Agency to deliver free clothing to meet the community's growing needs
in these tough economic times. With Community Redevelopment Agency and community
support, this year atone $20,000 worth of shopping gift certificates were distributed to Overtown
residents in need. People love to shop at Chapter 2 and the experience is empowering in itself. A
volunteer wardrobe specialist is available to be onsite to provide assistance to clients referred from
area agencies such as The Lotus House, Hospitality Institute, Somerville Residences, Transition,
Overtown Youth Center, and Community Partnership for Homeless.
Description of Grant Request
On behalf of Chapter 2 and its newest member program, Camillus Closet, The Women's Alliance is
requesting a combined $50,000 from the City of Miami Community Redevelopment Agency to
support sustainability of Chapter 2 and help bolster capacity of Camillus Closet during its start-up
phase. A grant from the City of Miami Community Redevelopment Agency is critical to help expand
Chapter 2 and Camillus Closet and to help strengthen services provided and community awareness
of both and their respective missions.
Grant funding will be divided equally between each program (i.e. $25,000 per program) and be
used to:
• Providing clothing for 200 Hospitality Institute graduates, Overtown residents for life and
work by Camillus Closet and Chapter 2
• Increase plus -size inventory for both women and men
• Provide additional clothing racks, signage and or other elements to continue to enhance the
quality of each program
COMBINED GRANT TOTAL = $50,000
Commissioners, once again a sincere thank you to you and your excellent staff for your support of
our work and belief in Chapter 2, Camillus House and our Overtown retail revitalization goals. Your
willingness to step outside of the box, along with your energy and spirit are very much appreciated.
In November at The Women's Alliance National Conference in Miami, we will be sharing our
learning with our affiliates from across the country so that they do can assess their own community
needs and learn from our experiences creating the Chapter 2 model.
How fortuitous that because our collaborative and public and private partnership efforts homeless
and displaced men in the Miami community will now also benefit from the much needed services of
Camillus Closet and that we can continue to grow, expand, and innovate for the future.
Both Dr. Ahr and I look forward to meeting with you at your earliest convenience to discuss our
proposal in greater detail. Please feel free to contact me anytime at 305-495-7254 with additional
questions.
Sincerely,
Nicole Wild
Executive Director
The Women's Alliance
Chapter 2 Clothing
Historic Dorsey House
250 NW 9rn Street, 2nd Floor
Miami, FL 33136
www.chapter2clothing.orq
www.thewomensalliance.orq
cc: James, Villacorta, Executive Director, CRA
Dr. Paul Ahr, President and CEO, Camillus House
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